Abstract: There is disclosed an electro-mechanical door opening and closing device which is adapted to be retro-fitted onto an existing manually operated sliding door system. The sliding door system has a stationary panel and a movable panel and the system is installed in a wall of a building. A stationary portion includes the stationary panel, the door frame and the building adjacent to the door frame. The device includes a reversible motor, a bracket or handle and a control system. The reversible motor is attachable to one of the stationary portion and the movable panel. The bracket is attachable to the other of the stationary portion and the movable panel. The device includes a threaded rod operably connected to the reversible motor such that the rod may be rotated clockwise and counterclockwise. The rod is also movably connected to the bracket and rotation of the rod clockwise and counterclockwise causes the bracket to move towards and away from the motor thereby opening and closing the sliding panel.

Abstract: The coupler has, in several embodiments, a compliant-link having flexible or pivoted fingers that engage a groove in the inside of a lower link in at least three places. The groove appears much like a bearing race. The compliant-link is retained inside of an upper sleeve that is attached to an upward-extending post. The lower (engaging) link is attached to a downward-extending post. The fingers are able to disengage from the groove under spring action and thus a sufficient applied moment will cause disengagement. Disengagement does not cause anything to break. Assembly, or reassembly, of the coupler may be performed without extra parts or tools. In several of the embodiments, the decoupling moment may be manually adjusted using less moment than the resultant decoupling moment. The decoupling moment is essentially independent of azimuth. The coupler is particularly suited to being used with rural type mailboxes, and warehouse buffers and supports.

Abstract: Revolving door having at least four variable length door wings extending radially into a passageway, and being offset from one another in the direction of rotation about a central axis. Each door wing includes at least two sliding door elements slidingly movable relative to each other to vary the radial length of the door wings. Each door wing has a pivot axis disposed radially outwardly from the central axis. Adjacent door wings are pivotable about their respective pivot axes from an operating position in which the door wings extend radially into the passageway to an open position in which the sliding door elements slide relative to each other to shorten the radial length and unblock the passageway.

Abstract: A coupling for axially fixing a hub on a shaft has locking members slidable in slots of the hub and which are engaged in recesses in the shaft by a collar which holds the locking members in the recesses so as to fix the hub axially on the shaft. In a released position, a shoulder on the collar catches behind a ledge formed on the hub, but only when the shaft is removed from the hub. When the shaft is in the hub, it cams against uncocking members in the form of balls which prevent the collar from being tilted so as to engage the collar shoulder with the ledge on the hub.

Abstract: An elevating mailbox consisting of a housing that is open therethrough and is closed across a top end by a cap, with the housing to telescope into and out of a ground sleeve that is seated in a hole in the ground adjacent to a road way, and providing a sealing arrangement for discouraging water entry into the ground sleeve. The housing includes a mail receiving cavity that is exposed when the housing is in an elevated attitude. A screw jack is maintained to a bottom of the ground sleeve to extend and retract a screw from a nut arranged across a cylinder when the screw is turned, with a screw top end journaled to the housing to lift and lower the housing, with the screw arranged to be turned by operation of an electric motor that is operated by a remote control connected through wires to operate at set times and on demand, and including limit switches for turning off motor operation at upper and lower limits of housing travel into and out of the ground sleeve.

Abstract: A vehicle door arrangement suitable for closing an opening in a container or containment structure provides for at least one door to be slidably guided by a single rail provided in the vehicle side near the top of the door. Guidance to the door between a closing position and an open position is provided by an arm located at the top of the door and carrying a wheel and a guide lug which are respectively supported and guided by the rail. A mechanism including a levered shaft is provided at the side of the opening near the bottom of the door and is operable to engage with the door thereat to hold it in a closed position relative to the opening.

Abstract: An improved window assembly of the type having sliding, pivoting sashes, includes a window frame having a pair of jambs, a jamb liner secured to each of the jambs, a sash which is slidable within the jambs, and a frictional positioner shoe disposed within a channel in the jamb liner. The frictional positioner shoe provides frictional engagement between the sash and the jamb liners to securely hold the window in a raised position, and providing additional restraint against vertical movement of the shoe and rotational movement of the sash when it is tilted away from the plane of the window opening. Also provided is an improved window of the type having sliding, pivoting sashes, which include an elongate slidable member disposed within a channel in the jamb liner, and a rotatable member having an integrally attached brake member disposed within a bore passing through the elongate slidable member.

Abstract: A waste basket arrangement with display capabilities that includes a frame adaptable to a surface, a display board fixedly attached to the frame, a basket rotatively mounted to the frame, rotating apparatus for rotatively mounting the basket to the frame, and limiting apparatus for limiting the amount of rotation of the basket relative to the frame so that when the basket is rotated the basket is prevented from turning completely over and thus facilitates the dumping and jarring of trash from the basket.

Abstract: A merchandising display formed of assembled corrugated paperboard blanks is provided. The display is capable of adjustment to considerable and variable height. The display includes a base for supporting the display and for interlocking with at least one modular tray into which merchandise is stocked. Interlocking inserts secured in the trays form continuous vertical columns by which a plurality of trays may be supported on the base. A header may also be included. A counter display formed from an easel and at least one tray is also provided.

Abstract: Coins and medals are constructed from a ring having an inner opening and an insert disposed inside the opening, the insert comprising a groove to be filled with material of the ring plastically deformed, the ring having an inner wall substantially smooth and vertical, having an initial thickness which is greater than the initial thickness of the insert and having a cross-sectional shape which is substantially trapezoidal, a small base of the trapezoid constituting the inner wall of the ring, thereby providing a plastic deformation of the material of the ring towards the insert for connecting the ring with the insert.

Abstract: An interface mechanism is used for shutter systems, which includes a hollow nylon bushing and a pin. The pin is positioned within the hollow bushing by inserting the pin therethrough and into the louver. The nylon bushing is press fitted into the stile and is held immobile by ears or flanges. Rotation of the louver causes the pin to turn within the bushing providing a uniform tactile feel and long life, as a result of a section of tiny grippers located adjacent to the head of the pin.

Abstract: A vehicle door arrangement suitable for a cargo transport vehicle provides for at least one door to be slidably guided by a single rail provided in the vehicle side near the top of the door. Guidance to the door between a closing position and an open position is provided by an arm located at the top of the door and carrying a wheel and a guide lug which are respectively supported and guided by the rail. A mechanism including a levered shaft is provided at the side of the vehicle near the bottom of the door and is operable to engage with the door therat to hold it in a closed position relative to the vehicle.

Abstract: According to the invention, a stud has a spherical ball with upper and lower hemispheres and is seated within a socket housing. The socket housing includes a bore defining an access through which the stud may be inserted into the housing and a hemispherical cavity surface for seating the upper hemisphere of the spherical ball. A housing plug closes off the bore of the socket housing and has a hemispherical cavity surface for receiving the lower hemisphere of the spherical ball. A molded plastic spherical bearing liner is interposed between the spherical ball and the hemispherical cavities of the socket housing and the housing plug. The bearing liner has an unsegmented upper hemisphere which acts between the hemisphere of the spherical ball and the hemispherical cavity of the socket housing. The bearing liner also has a lower hemisphere integral with the upper hemisphere and segmented by longitudinal extending slots therethrough to provide an even numbered plurality of resilient spring fingers.

Abstract: An improved construction for a pinch bolt yoke for use as a flexible coupling in a vehicle steering system includes two separate components, a block and a stamping. The block includes front and rear surfaces, upper and lower surfaces, opposing side surfaces, and edges between the surfaces. The block includes a longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear surfaces. The block further includes a cutout to accommodate a transverse bolt. The cutout extends across a portion of the upper surface in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The block further includes a bore to receive a shaft. The bore extends through the block between the front and rear surfaces in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis. The stamping is adapted to receive the block. The stamping includes a base and a pair of arms extending perpendicularly from the base. The stamping further includes a front surface and a rear end, upper and lower surfaces, and opposing side surfaces.

Abstract: A guide pin and conical guide pin receptor for aligning a door relative to a door frame or other stable grounded device. The pin and receptor align the door from horizontal misalignment and radially throughout 360.degree. relative to the axis of the pin receptor. In aligning the door, interfitting elements on the door and door frame are aligned including such elements as comprise key actuated interlocking switch systems.

Abstract: A ball joint is formed of a joint device having a ball holder with a through hole, a plurality of ball abutting ribs projecting inwardly from an inner surface of the ball holder, a ring-shaped projecting stand formed at a lower part of the ball holder to extend along a periphery of the inner surface of the ball holder, a fitting ring disposed on the projecting stand, and a rotation preventing rib projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the ball holder. The fitting ring is elastically deformable and has a slit. The rotation preventing rib is placed in the slit of the fitting ring to thereby prevent the fitting ring from moving on the projecting stand. In the invention, a ball stud having a spherical fitting part can be reliably disposed between the fitting ring and the ball abutting ribs.

Abstract: An improved, economical spaceframe structural system capable of varying curvature is provided, wherein the ends of elongated frame members have fixedly attached headed ends which, in turn, fit into matching recesses in the connector joint. The connector comprises three, disk-like parts which nestle one on top of another on a common axis and which are held together with a single bolt. Each of the three connector parts share interior faces with another part and have matching recesses for joining the frame member ends. Other matching recessed formations on the interior faces of these parts permit the frame members to assume variable angles with respect to the common axis and, by this means, facilitate the property of variable curvature of the spaceframe structure. A minimum of two frame member ends have an improved T-shape which strengthens the connector under tensile forces, enhances the alignment of the framework during assembly, and helps the spaceframe resist racking after erection.

Abstract: An automatic door opening safety system particularly for use with garage doors is provided. The garage door includes a leading edge that moves from the open position, where the leading edge defines the top of the opening and a closed position, where the leading edge contacts the ground. A controller is provided for controlling movement of the door. An activation member provides an input to the controller to initiate movement of the door. A non-contact detector detects whether an obstruction is in the path of the door. The non-contact detector is positioned in front of the leading edge of the door, such that obstructions are detected at a predetermined distance in front of the leading edge of said door.

Abstract: A swivel connector for supporting a fixture and including a swivel socket, a spherically shaped hollow member located in the socket and forming with the socket a first universal joint, and two adaptors for connecting the swivel connector to a support and the fixture, respectively, with the support-connecting adapter being connected to the swivel socket and with the fixture-connecting adaptor having a spherical portion received within the hollow swivel member and forming with the swivel member a second universal joint.

Abstract: An earring is provided, that is simple to wear and is designed to minimize potential loss of the earring by inadvertent falling off. The earring is also designed to minimize pain to the earlobe of the wearer, even when the accessory that forms a portion of the earring becomes quite large. The earring of the invention includes a body portion adapted to be inserted into the external opening of a human ear; a connector for affixing an ornamental accessory to the earring, which is attached at an upper end to the main body portion; a hook-like element attached to the lower end of the connector, adapted to be releasably clamped to the rear side of the ear; and an accessory mounted at an ornamental location on the connector.